Contrary to popular belief, many illegal immigrants in the U.S. pay federal taxes — through what's called an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or ITIN. But new tax rules effective this month mean some changes for taxpayers using those numbers.

The state Legislature is diverse in some ways and homogenous in others. Here's a look at Texas' 83rd class of lawmakers, from their employment and higher education to their age, gender and demographics.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, citing a robust economy, releases the Biennial Revenue Estimate showing that the state is projected to have over $100 billion available for spending in the next biennium.

The two-year-old revenue forecast used to justify massive cuts in the current state budget was wrong — and not by a little bit. But the conservative Legislature elected in 2010 wasn't complaining.

Speaker Joe Straus walks toward the House on Jan. 8, 2013, the opening day of the 83rd Texas Legislature.

After successfully fending off another challenge to his speakership, Joe Straus faces a tough task in the session. He will have to tackle issues that have been thorny for Republicans in the past, without further alienating the far right.